Chad stops 103 kids being flown to Europe 145;illegally146;

The French group has denied it was acting illegally. Seven Spanish crew members of the plane chartered for the operation were charged as accessories, along with two Chadians.

Chadian President Idriss Deby has denounced 8220;a crime against children8221; and demanded stiff penalties. He has suggested the children, aged three to 10 years old, could have ended up being sold to a pedophile ring or used to supply human organs.

The 16 Europeans were arrested on Thursday as they tried to fly the children, believed to be Sudanese and Chadian, out of Abeche in eastern Chad. A Belgian pilot has been detained separately but was not cited in Tuesday8217;s charges.

The case has caused embarrassment for France, which is an ally of Deby and has a military contingent stationed in Chad. France8217;s Government, which has criticized the activities of the Zoe8217;s Ark group and opened an inquiry into illegal adoption procedures, said the accused would face justice in Chad.

8220;The Chadian justice system is sovereign,8221; French Justice Minister Rachida Dati told Europe 1 radio.

The accused include the president and other members of Zoe8217;s Ark. At least two French journalists are also among the group.

The children, some believed to have come from families who fled to Chad from Sudan8217;s Darfur, were due to be housed with host families in Europe who paid several thousand euros each.